Below you will find some frequently asked questions and answers that prospective students may have about the centre. If you have a specific questions please contact Emma Juggins on
horizon-dtc@horizon.ac.uk.
How will I choose my PhD topic?
Your PhD topic will evolve during your first six months in the centre. In the first semester you will attend a number of seminars and presentations by potential supervisors associated with the DTC, and be encouraged to have informal meetings with those whose areas you are interested in pursuing. You will start on your PhD proposal as soon as you join the centre, and be required to complete this by March of your first year. Your mentor and the supervision staff within the centre will help you with this.
Which research groups are involved in the DTC?
The principal supervisors are based in the Mixed Reality Lab (Computer Science), Human Factors Research Group, Centre for Geospatial Science, Institute for Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy, Institute for Science and Society and Institute for Enterprise and Innovation. Second supervisors may be from other schools or departments within the University of Nottingham.
How will my supervisor be allocated?
We hope that as far as possible the supervisors will be chosen by the students. All students will have two supervisors from different research areas to ensure that the research topics are multidisciplinary. All supervisor allocations will be approved by the DTC management board in month 8-10 of year 1.
Who will be my supervisor in the first year?
You will have a mentor, rather than a supervisor in your first year. The task of the mentor is to provide pastoral support, guide you with choice of optional taught modules, and help you to develop your research proposal. Your mentor may or may not become your supervisor in years 2-4.
How am I assessed?
Taught modules are assessed primarily by coursework, and some taught modules have examinations as well. At the end of each year you will have an oral examination (viva) which will check your progression is satisfactory. This will be conducted by a member of the centre supervision staff who is not your supervisor, but your supervisor may also be present. There will be a minimum average mark required for taught modules.
What are the taught modules I will be taking?
Core modules include Innovation and Technology Transfer, Digital Technologies and Society, Human Computer Systems, Ubiquitous Computing , either Geospatial Engineering, or Geospatial Information Services, and Research and Professional Skills. Options include computer programming, innovation management, mobile learning, games, cognitive ergonomics and user interface design. We will encourage students to broaden their skill base as much as possible (e.g. a non-computer scientist will be encouraged to increase their technical skills).
Where will I be based?
In the first year you will be based in the dedicated DTC space on Jubilee Campus. In years 2-4 you will move to the research group of your principal supervisor, which may be on Jubilee or University Park Campus.
What funding will I receive?
All home students and others eligible for full funding will receive a stipend of £15,600 per annum from September 2012, a laptop and their registration fees will be paid. In addition, all agreed research costs will be supported by the DTC. If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact Emma Juggins.
What is an internship?
During your first 36 months you will undertake a three month internship within one of our partner industrial organisations. You may be paid for your time and the work you conduct there may not be directly related to your specific PhD topic, but will be relevant to the DTC focus. You will be required to write a reflective report on this internship that will be assessed.
When will each cohort start?
Each cohort of students will start in September, and there will be five cohorts in total (final entry, 2013).